Wasn’t there an article here that said Russia had been kicked out of Bakhmut?
You’re right though...what a waste.
The progress of the war has been attack-counterattck. There have been some counterattacks OUTSIDE of the city where the Ukes gained some ground from the Russians - and those have been described as: "The Ukes are pushing the Russians back NEAR Bahkmut!"
People who don't know what is going on hear that as: "The Ukes are pushing the Russians out of Bahkmut!"